Hot water heater



@ch 15, 3935. s. KLEIN HOT WATER HEATER Filed Oct. 19, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet l .m w: M W u m n Em m 8 H W 7 -a 2-3 w. 15,. 1935. a kLEm2,017,251

HOT WATER HEATER Filed Oct. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 66 35B EN INVENTORa Silard :(lei/n 46 BY HI ORNEY' Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a unitary hot water heater and stoker forsupplying solid fuel.

Pursuant to my invention, the hot water heater comprises a casing inwhich is enclosed a fire box 5 and supporting means therefor unitarilyembodied in the heater structure. My invention further contemplates theunitary structure of the heater casing with stoker means, preferablyequipped. with a hopper, for supplying solid fuel 10 to the fire box.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a casing providing achamber for suitable coil means through which the water to be heated ispassed, such casing further comprising 15 a chamber disposed below theheating coil chamber for a fire box, preferably constructed for thecombustion of solid fuel capable of being fed by a suitable stoker,usually with the provision of suitable means for supplying air to thefire 20 box. The casing further provides for a chamber below the firebox chamber for a can or other receptacle for receiving the ashesresulting from the combustion of the fuel, the ashes being dischargedfrom the fire box over the upper edges 25 of the fire box, the can beingadvantageously positioned to receive the thus discharged ashes.

My invention further provides for the thermostatic control directlyassociated with the heater coil responsive to the temperature of theheated water for automatically starting and re-starting the stoker meansunder the condition of a predetermined minimum temperature and forinterrupting the operation of the stoker means under the condition of apredetermined maximum tem- 5 perature. Advantageously, the stoker isoperated combinedly with the fan or other means for supplying air undercompression to the fire box.

Preferably, the air supplying channel leading to the fire box isconstructed as an integral part 40 of the heater, and in particular,integrally with the walls of the casing or chamber thereof in which thefire box is located.

Preferably, the hopper is provided with suitable means for leading-Efuel or other foul 45 gases from the interior of the hopper into thestack or flue pipe serving for the discharge of the products ofcombustion of the fuel.

In general, the invention provides for the unitary or substantiallyintegral assembly of a 50 casing having vertically superposed chamberportions, a heater coil disposed in an upper chamber portion, a,fire-pot member disposed in a lower chamber portion, the fire-pot memberhaving an extension projecting through the front side of 55 the casing,and fuel feeding means supported by fan or other air supply means andthe stoker operating means are unitarily supported by such extension.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following detail description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in centralvertical section, of a hot water heater embodying a preferred form ofthe invention. The heater is shown arranged for the supply of domestichot water, and in connection therewith is illustrated as coupled with atank for the storage of the heated Water;

Fig. 2 is a diagram of an electrical circuit embodying thefan-stoker-means operating motor and a mercury type of thermostatcontrol switch;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the heater per se illustrated in Fig. 1,on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional elevation on line di of Fig. 3; vFig. 5 is a horizontal sectional elevation on line 5:i of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional elevation on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment, the 1 casing l0 comprises as anintegral construction the upper chamber I l for the reception andmounting of the heating coils [2, the intermediate chamber I3 for thereception and integral mounting therein of the combined fire box andstoker housing [4, and the lowermost chamber l5 for the reception of acan IE or equivalent'for receiving ashes.

The combined fire-box and stoker housing l4 comprises a wall portionl4a, which serves dually 40 as a part of the fuel feeding passage of thestoker housing and as a part of the heater casing ID.

Preferably, the stoker means comprises a hopper ll which is constructedas integral, or substantially integral with the combined fire box andstoker housing I l.

The illustrated stoker I8 is shown of the reciprocating type, andactuated during the stages of its controlled operation by an electric orother suitable motor [9, preferably employed to jointly supply air tothe fuel, as appears more fully hereinafter.

Preferably, the combined fire box and stoker casing I4 is constructed tohave integrally therewith a chamber portion 20, which substantiallyencloses the fire box 2|, the in-lead air passage 22 and also the outerconnecting air passage 23, the path of travel of the air being shown bythe indicated arrowed lines.

The lower wall portion 221) has a right-angled outer wall portion 220which serves also as a part of the wall of the heater casing IE],

Advantageously, the supply of the air to the ignited fuel is had byslots 24, perforations or other recesses passing through the wall 25 ofthe fire pot proper 2|.

The air fan is indicated at 26 and shown driven from the motor shaftI911 by means of the indicated pulley I92) and the interconnecting belt2?, pulley 28, mounted on the shaft 28a on which is provided a worm 29meshing with the worm gear 30 mounted on the shaft 30a on which theeccentric or equivalent cam means 3| is mounted. The link 32 isconnected to the actuated lever 33 and in turn to the stoker means I8,as by means of the pin 34 carried by the head l8a of the stoker, whichpin is received within the slot 33a of the lever 33.

The heater coils are mounted in the chamber H and connected to the hotwater line in any suitable manner. As illustrated, the heater coil I 2is of multiple vertically superposed type. The inflow pipe 35 connectedto the lowermost coil unit lZa, preferably having the multiple flowchamber construction illustrated in Fig. 6, each multiple coil unitbeing connected by a riser section I2b to the upper succeeding multiplecoil unit, etc., the lead-out pipe 36 being suitably connected to thehot water piping system, in this instance embodying the pipe 37, hotwater storage tank 38, etc., as is understood by those skilled in theart. The inflow pipe 35 is shown connected by the nipple 39 to a lowerlyportion of the hot water storage tank 38. The nipple 40 serves toconnect with the hot water piping system for the supply of the heatedwater. The return pipe is indicated at 4| connected, in this instance,by the nipple 42 with the interior of the hot water storage tank 38.

The door 45 is provided in the wall portion I30; of the intermediatechamber I 3, to afiord inspection and cleaning of the fire-pot, andother purposes, as will be apparent. The door 45 may also be located inits vertical height to afford access to the chamber II and thereinenclosed heater coils l2.

It will be observed that the door 45 is disposed on a side of the heatercasing l other than the front side on which the combined fire-pot andair channel member l4 extends exteriorly of the chamber l3.

A door 46, having a handle 46a, may be provided for the lowermost, i.e., ash compartment [5, see Fig. 1. The stack 41, or other flue pipe forthe discharge of the products of combustion, communicates with theinterior of the casing through the top opening thereof 48. A damper isindicated at 49.

Preferably, the hopper H is provided with a door Ila shown hinged atl'lb, a portion [1c of the top of the hopper I! being stationary andpreferably provided with a vent opening 50 communicating with one end ofthe pipe the other end 51a communicating with the stack or flue pipe 41;the location of communication is preferably posterior of the location ofthe damper 49 to thereby afford effective communication at all timesbetween the upper portion of the interior of the hopper [1 with thestack or flue pipe 41, whereby flue or foul gases which may chance toenter or to be collected within the hopper I! are directed into thestack or flue pipe 47, this function being particularly effective whenthe hopper door Ila is in its closed position. 5

Preferably, the operation of the stoker is controlled automatically bythe temperature of the water. As one form of such control, see Fig. 2,

I have illustrated a thermostatic switch 52 of the mercury type, and asindicated, embodies bimetallic strips 53, the fixed ends of which aremounted on a suitable support 54, the movable ends 5301. of which areconnected to and support the tube 55 containing mercury. The terminals56, 51 are mounted to project through the walls of the glass tube 55, asis well understood by those skilled in the art.

As one form of circuit connection, the terminal 56 is connected by theconductor 58 to a terminal of the motor l9, its opposite terminal beingconnected by the conductor 59 to a terminal of the source of electricalenergy, the other terminal of which is connected by the conductor 60through the hand switch 6|, conductor 62, to the terminal 5'!- of thethermostatic switch.

Preferably, the thermostatic switch 52 is enclosed in a casing, see 63,Fig. 1, and provided with an indicating pointer 64 associated with anappropriate temperature marked scale 65.

If desired, the chamber l l, enclosing the heater coils l2, may be linedwith suitable heat insulating material, such as the indicated lining 66.

Preferably, the combined fire-pot and air channel member i4 is providedwith suitable discharge means for the removal of dust and other foreignmaterial collected in the air passage portion 22; a preferred form ofsuch discharge is illustrated as comprising the closure plate 6! held bythe free end portion of a lever 66, shown pivotally mounted on the ears69, and overweighted by the overweight ball 10. By manipulating theoverweight ball 76 to cause the same to move upwardly, the closuremember 67 is swung downwardly, thus permitting dust and other foreignmaterial to be discharged through the discharge opening 22a. Theperipheral edges of the closure member 61 are preferably tapered toprovide for self-sealing engagement of the same with the wall edges ofthe opening 22a.

From the above, it will appear that my invention comprises as a combinedunitary structure,

a heater having .a chamber for the heater coils, an intermediate chamberfor the fire-pot, the fire-pot member providing for the feeding of asolid fuel, preferably by a stoker, and further providing for'the inflowof air for supporting the combustion of the. ignited fuel.

In the preferred forms of the invention, the heater casing furtherprovides for a lowermost chamber for the collection of the ash resultingfrom the combustion of the solid fuel. Preferably, the lowermost chamberis of suitable capacity and contour for the reception of an ash can orother receptacle.

The contour of the heater may -be such as desired, the illustratedcircular contour being of structural advantage.

The locations and detail construction of the parts of the stoker per se,hopper per se, fan per se, actuating mechanism per se, etc., may beselected 70 as preferred.

From the above, it appears that my invention results in a unitaryassembly in a hot water heater of heating coils and a source of heat bythe combustion of solid fuel and fuel feeding means, the 75.

aforesaid being correlated in structure to attain decreased material andassembly costs and also attaining high efliciency in transformation ofheat units furnished by the fuel into heat units delivered to the water.

As above set forth, the heated water may be for the supply of so-calleddomestic hot water, or the heated Water may serve to furnish heat forrooms or other enclosures as a part of a hot Water heating system.

As also appears, my invention comprises the correlated assembly ofheating coils, a supply of solid fuel, feeding means for feeding solidfuel to suitable fuel combustion means, and thermostatic meansresponsive to a variable minimum temperature for efiecting the operationof the fuel feeding means and also responsive to a variable maximumtemperature for discontinuing the operation of the fuel feeding means.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific formsthereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: In a hot water heater, a casing constituted by top,intermediate and bottom sections in vertically superposed andcommunicating relation, the intermediate section being supported on thebottom section and the top section being supported on the intermediatesection, the top section having arranged therein a plurality of watersections provided with inlet and outlet connections, the intermediatesection having an opening therein, a stoker unit arranged in theintermediate section and including a fire box and fuel and air passagesthereto, said air passage including a chamber about said fire box, saidpassages extending through the opening of said last-named section andthe walls of said passages having provisions for closing said openingand to thus form a part of the intermediate section wall, the bottomsection being arranged to receive ashes discharged from the fire box,and the bottom Wall 20 SILARD KLEIN.

